J: Just a quick note. I forgot to mention in the last update that I have seen all the episodes of TFP and I know what happened to Silas (WHO THE HELL WOULD EVER FORGET?!) But I started writing this story before season three so some of things in here are going to lead the story to be AU.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own TFP and Mina owns herself.
'I'm using one cover up after another here. Damn Screamer for catching me off guard like that. Wonder if he'll rat out KnockOut for letting me run away again.' If Screamer told on KnockOut it wouldn't matter to her. With SoundWave monitoring everything she did Mina knew Megatron would hear about her jaunt around the ship from one mech or other.
Going back into the lab she found KnockOut tinkering with something. Stepping quietly she went back to the corner and took up the show of cleaning. "Remember I want this place spotless. If BreakDown and the drones could do it so can you." Her back turned to KnockOut Mina rolled her eyes. 'How is it this guy hasn't failed more often?' As she tried to put in an effort to actually clean the invisible dust away Mina's stomach voiced numerous complaints about the lack of substance. 'It's only a matter of time, hopefully they bring back something I will like.'
Her stomach continued to complain and her arms remained sore as she stretched to clean, 'Where are those drones with my food?! It must be over an hour now since I sent them off. If I had something that could tell time that would be nice.' Mina's cleaning had taken her away from the corner and moved her about halfway along the wall. Her thoughts were answered when the sound of feet and tree branches rustling their leaves reached her ears. 'Oh Primus did they? They did!' Grinning ear to ear Mina ran to the door as a whole apple tree was brought into the room by one of the drones. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Good job, you can just set it down over there. Chill your gears KnockOut, I sent...um...What's your designation?"
"Drone 2478...I'm also called Steve."
"Right I sent Steve to retrieve this for me, I needed the food. You can go take a break Steve, just send complaints my way if anyone argues." Steve hesitated but gave a nod and left.
The apple tree was laid down on the floor giving Mina easy access to the ripe apples; she was delighted to see that they were Galas, one of her favourite kinds. Mina picked two off and began to eat one of them. KnockOut had his hands clasped in front of him as he asked in a tone that bordered patient anger, "What makes you think you can order around Lord Megatron's soldiers human? You have no standing in the ranks except as a probationary soldier."
Her second apple put into her hoodie pocket Mina ate her first apple and resumed her cleaning, swallowing a mouthful Mina obliged KnockOut with a lesson, "Probationer or not I was still made a Decepticon. And my rank is nothing compared to my title and worth as a relic. Therefore my standing point is plenty to send a drone or two on little errands such as food retrieval. Think of it this way Doctor. No food, no nutrition, no energy, no life, no human, no relic energy."
KnockOut's optics zoomed in on the side of the human's face that he could see, his irritation flared at seeing the corner of her mouth twitching with a victorious smirk. "Hmph, if not for the energy that resides in you I would have you dissected like the bug you are. Lord Megatron will surely hear about this and you can bet he will not be entertained with your explanation.
Her response was a shrug of indifference, she needed to impress Megatron not entertain him. The ways a human could impress a Cybertronian were limited, especially when Megatron was the Cybertronian that needed to be impressed. 'What do I know about Lord Megatron, leader of the Decepticons? He respects strength in his mechs, being tech savvy and skilled at espionage is also acceptable. He thinks compassion and mercy are a waste and does not accept failure. That means I need to act meaner and smarter until I pass probation...Simple enough. Practicing with the drones will be a good start.' Mina nodded at her plan, passing her probation period would be a breeze. 'First I need to finish this stupid job...I'll give myself a break when I reach the corner. I'll see what SoundWave is doing after that.' Eager to see SoundWave again Mina put a bit more speed into her cleaning, once her second apple was done her cleaning went even faster.
Mina heaved the large drill back to its original spot on the shelf (that had taken some creativity to get up on) this shelf was the last thing that needed to be dusted on that side of the room. Doctor Neglectful had been in and out of the room multiple times, she noticed that when he left he locked the door. She knew this from the 'clack' sound it made, she'd also tried leaving again. KnockOut was presently back in the lab looking over some data on his screen. 'Time for escape number three. I need to start a tally to show to Megatron, I'm sure he'd appreciate my honesty about how many times KnockOut hasn't noticed my absence.' Getting KnockOut into trouble was going to be quite entertaining.
Knowing perfectly well that SoundWave remained stationed at the prow of the ship with the main console decoding coordinates Mina did her best to recreate her trip with DreadWing. It took her a few wrong turns, and a demand to a couple drones to point her in the right direction but she managed to find SoundWave. The entrance she stood around the corner from gave her an ideal view of SoundWave at work.
The mech had his fingers moving around that keypad with no stop in sight. 'He is the physical representation of diligent. The Autobots are in the dark when it comes to the true source of darkness that emanates from the Decepticons. SoundWave is a silent shadow behind the might of Megatron, but shadows are pure darkness, a darkness that can leak into your spark and make you cry for mercy after it's pulled out your fears.' To anyone else watching SoundWave they would see the communications officer doing his job. To Mina she was watching magic happen. She couldn't understand a single thing on the screen but she didn't need to. The end product of his "spell casting" would be something new and thrilling for Megatron to pursue. A magician was a human that produced tricks that left their audience thrilled and seeking the truth behind the trick. It was the same on all accounts.
The codes on the screen began to change colour as SoundWave got closer to putting together the coordinates. Mina held her breathe to hear what the new relic would be. Right as the last code fell into place she was grabbed and lifted into the air. Caught off guard (again) Mina let out a yelp, lifted up to optic level with her snatcher she was mildly surprised to see it was KnockOut. Playing it off in amusement Mina propped her hand under her chin, "Look who finally decided to pay attention to the human."
"Yes and now I'm never taking my optics off you again, do you have any idea what Lord Megatron would have done to me if he'd found you out on your own?" KnockOut kept his voice low to try and avoid detection.
"That was kinda the point of me ditching you in the first place." Mina was relishing in the glare KnockOut was giving her, it meant she was doing a splendid job of getting under his gears.
"You think getting me into trouble is amusing do you? Let's just see how amusing you think this is." KnockOut had brought her back to the lab. He put her on the examination table so she'd have a clear view of him lighting her apple tree on fire with his blow torch.
"Scrap!" Getting down from the table didn't go as nicely as it had the first time. Her arms protested against her clinging to the table leg and threatened to let go. The pain was strong enough that she let go early and endured a painful fall onto her feet that sent jolts shooting through her bones.
KnockOut leaned against the door watching as Mina stripped off her hoodie to use as a sack for the apples she pulled off the tree. She managed to get 12 of them free before the heat and smoke got to be too much for her to tolerate. Coughing up the smoke she'd inhaled Mina hugged her apples to her chest protectively, "Touch these apples and I scratch your paint job."
"Big threat from the human that doesn't even reach my knee. Put out that fire and clean up the mess. Then you can get back to work cleaning the rest of the room." KnockOut remained standing in front of the door. He was going to do just as he'd said and watch everything she did. When he had looked for her earlier and found her gone he nearly went into stasis, to be evaded for a second time was a disgrace. Were Lord Megatron to know he'd send him out to all their energon mines for the next year.
Mina couldn't see a fire extinguisher anywhere but she did see sprinklers on the roof. Using the dust rag she fanned the flames and smoke to send it higher up, this triggered all the sprinklers in the lab. Three of KnockOut's tools sparks, popped and blew out. KnockOut's optics narrowed, Mina stuck her tongue out, he'd never specified how he wanted the fire to be put out so it couldn't be blamed on her. And he had been the one to start the fire, making everything his own fault. 'It's not enough for pay back. I'll get you my pretty and your lovely paint job too. Mwahahaha!' It was a cheesy overused line but it worked given the target of her revenge. Going along with her Wicked Witch of the West train of thought Mina grinned at the realization that she had her own flying monkeys too. Although they wouldn't like being called monkeys.
Dealing with the dead charred remains of the apple tree ended with Mina using a saw she could lift to hack it into smaller pieces and then putting it all into a pile to be taken away by a drone later. Removing the soot from the walls and floor she'd already cleaned gave her ample time to develop her plot for revenge. It was her plan that kept her smiling in twisted glee as she finished cleaning the rest of the lab.
The last tool put back into place Mina groaned, "I don't care if you have any other chores for me to do, I don't care what time it is I am done for the day and I am going to go recharge. Move your shiny aft out of the doorway, NOW."
Later on KnockOut would wonder if it wasn't the energy that made him listen and unlock the door for the human. Mina didn't give KnockOut a chance to say or do anything, speed walking out the door she made it back to SoundWave's room without a problem. She didn't question the fact that the door opened and locked behind her. She also didn't question the pile of cloth left for her on the floor by the front of the berth. Flopping onto the pile she wrapped a cloth around her in a warm cocoon and fell asleep.
